Chart Pattern Cheat Sheet: Candlestick Patterns for Traders

Technical AnalysisOreld Hadilberg • Updated 10 Jun 2025 • 17 min read

Chart Pattern Cheat Sheet: Candlestick Patterns for Traders

In the stock market, understanding chart patterns is crucial for traders and investors. A cheat sheet for technical analysis can help identify bullish reversal patterns, such as three peaks, which signal potential market trends. Recognizing these common patterns can improve your trading strategy.

During a period of consolidation, trading volume may decrease, leading to neutral chart patterns. A well-structured stock chart patterns cheat sheet serves as an effective indicator for making informed trading decisions. It’s essential to differentiate between bullish and bearish chart patterns to navigate varying market conditions.

Focusing on trading chart patterns can enhance your chart analysis skills, enabling you to identify bullish patterns and bearish chart patterns. With a solid grasp of types of chart patterns, you can effectively adapt your trading strategy to align with the prevailing market trend.

Many traders dream of being able to generate highly profitable trades on a consistent basis to earn regular income from trading. While some people think that trading is hard, the dream is not as unattainable as what they imagine it to be. Our chart patterns cheat sheet can instantly turn you into a trading guru. Read on to find out what the most useful chart patterns are and see some examples of how they look in real life and learn how to trade them.

Before that, we have put together a table of the top 20 useful chat patterns you can print out and paste on your desk as a quick reminder to help you identify trade setups as quickly as they appear.

Continuation Chart Patterns

Name Typical Suggestion Short Description
Ascending Triangle Uptrend Rising trend line with flat top breakout
Descending Triangle Downtrend Falling trend line with flat bottom breakout
Bullish Symmetrical Triangle Uptrend Converging trend lines break higher
Bearish Symmetrical Triangle Downtrend Converging trend lines break lower
Bull Flag Uptrend Sharp rise followed by downward consolidation
Bear Flag Downtrend Sharp fall followed by upward consolidation
Bullish Pennant Uptrend Sharp rise followed by converging lines
Bearish Pennant Downtrend Sharp fall followed by converging lines
Cup and Handle Uptrend Large saucer with smaller dip before breakout
Inverted Cup and Handle Downtrend Large inverted saucer with rise before breakdown

There are 3 three types of patterns: continuation, reversal, and bilateral.

Continuation patterns indicate that the current trend is likely to continue. Examples of continuation patterns include flags, pennants, and rectangles.

Reversal patterns indicate that the current trend is likely to reverse. Examples of reversal patterns include double tops and bottoms, head and shoulders, and triangles.

Bilateral patterns indicate that the price could move in either direction. Examples of bilateral patterns include wedges and channels.

Examples of Reversal Patterns From The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet

In the world of crypto trading, understanding reversal chart patterns is crucial. Traders utilize a patterns cheat sheet for traders to recognize patterns that indicate a potential market shift. These patterns, along with technical indicators, enhance trading skills and reveal new trading opportunities.

Utilizing a cheat sheet pdf allows traders to analyze price charts and apply candlestick analysis. By studying past market data, they can identify different patterns that reflect market psychology. This approach is essential for improving your trading skills in both the forex market and cryptocurrency markets.

Among the various technical patterns, continuation chart patterns and bilateral chart patterns serve to guide traders. By mastering these chart patterns, traders can enhance their technical analysis chart abilities, ultimately leading to more informed decisions and successful trades.

The Margex trading platform provides useful technical analysis tools to help traders identify useful chart patterns to help them become successful traders without breaking a sweat. You can find all the patterns in our chart patterns cheat sheet on the Margex platform. Our chart samples below are of recent price movements of BTC extracted from the Margex platform.

Now, let us take a look at some examples of the most commonly seen trend reversal patterns on our chart patterns cheat sheet and explain how to spot and trade them.

Bullish

In a recent example from BTC’s 30-minute chart, the price action formed a clear inverted head and shoulders pattern after a short-term downtrend. The formation included:

  • Two shallow valleys (shoulders)
  • One deeper dip in the middle (head)
  • A neckline that aligned with previous resistance

Once BTC broke above the neckline, momentum increased rapidly. This triggered buying interest from technical traders targeting the projected move — typically calculated as the vertical distance from the head to the neckline. In this case, BTC surged over 7% in less than 24 hours, validating the pattern’s bullish potential.

Bearish

On a recent daily chart, BTC printed a double top around a key resistance zone, with two peaks forming near the same price level. After the second peak failed to break higher, bearish divergence appeared in momentum indicators like RSI.

A breakdown below the pattern’s neckline led to a sharp decline, transitioning BTC into a lower high / lower low structure. This reversal pattern remains one of the most reliable signals for spotting the end of an uptrend and preparing for a trend shift.

Examples of Continuation Patterns From The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet

Continuation patterns are essential in technical analysis, indicating that a trend is likely to persist after a brief pause. Examples include flags, which resemble a small rectangle against the prevailing trend, and pennants, characterized by converging trendlines. Both patterns suggest that the momentum will resume once the consolidation phase concludes.

Additionally, triangles—whether ascending, descending, or symmetrical—serve as powerful indicators of potential continuation. These formations highlight periods of indecision before the price breaks out, usually in the direction of the prior trend. Recognizing these patterns can help traders make informed decisions based on historical price behavior.

After seeing examples of reversal patterns, it is time to take a look at some examples of the most commonly seen trend continuation patterns on our chart patterns cheat sheet and explain how to spot and trade them.

Bullish

BTC recently formed a bullish pennant on the 4-hour chart after a strong upward move (flagpole). This pattern was characterized by:

  • A sharp initial rise
  • A short consolidation in a narrowing range
  • A breakout in the direction of the prior trend

Traders often project the next target by mirroring the height of the flagpole above the breakout point. In this case, BTC moved over $10,000 higher after the breakout, aligning precisely with the measured move.

Bearish

After breaking below a key support zone, BTC entered a bear flag formation on the 1-hour chart. This setup included:

  • A steep decline (flagpole)
  • A weak consolidation channel sloping slightly upward
  • A breakdown from the lower support line

The price target was again estimated using the height of the flagpole, and BTC quickly met its target within a few trading sessions — a textbook bear flag execution.

Here you can find more detailed information about trading patterns:

FAQ

What Are The Most Profitable Chart Patterns On The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet?

Pattern Signal Why It’s Profitable
Cup and Handle Bullish Strong breakout after consolidation
Head and Shoulders Bearish reversal Clear top formation, signals trend change
Double Bottom Bullish reversal Reliable trend reversal at key support
Bull Flag Bullish continuation Short-term pause before trend resumes
Symmetrical Triangle Continuation Breakout often aligns with prior trend

Chart patterns can help traders use technical analysis to enhance their trading strategies. By incorporating traditional chart patterns and Japanese candlestick formations into their trading plan, they can effectively predict future market movements and make informed decisions in the market.

Utilizing a cheat sheet to help spot patterns allows traders to identify patterns used in stock chart patterns that signal potential opportunities for profit. These cheat sheets offer valuable insights, making it easier to use patterns for lower trading risks while considering technical and fundamental analysis.

How Do You Find The Pattern Of a Chart?

Step What to Do Purpose
1 Analyze candlestick formations Understand market psychology
2 Look for visual shapes (e.g. triangles) Identify trend direction
3 Use cheat sheets for reference Compare with known patterns
4 Confirm with indicators (RSI, MA) Validate breakout/breakdown

To identify the pattern of a chart, observe the trading candlestick formations. By using chart patterns, you can analyze how stock chart patterns can help predict future price movements. These patterns signal potential entry and exit points, enhancing your trading strategy.

Look for distinct shapes on the chart that indicate trends. Familiarizing yourself with various patterns to spot will allow you to make informed decisions.

What Are The Different Graph Patterns On The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet?

The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet showcases various graph patterns that traders use to analyze market trends. Common patterns include head and shoulders, double tops, and flags. Each pattern signals potential price movements, aiding traders in making informed decisions based on historical data and trend analysis.

Additionally, patterns like triangles and cup and handle highlight consolidation phases, while ascending and descending channels indicate consistent price movements. Understanding these patterns can enhance a trader’s ability to identify entry and exit points, ultimately improving their trading strategy.

Are Chart Patterns Useful?

Advantage Helps forecast future market moves
Limit No guarantee of accuracy
Best Use Combined with indicators & risk management

Are chart patterns useful? Many traders believe they provide valuable insights into market trends. By recognizing these patterns, traders can make more informed decisions.

In conclusion, while chart patterns can offer useful information, their reliability is not guaranteed. A comprehensive approach that includes various methods will likely yield better results.

What Time Frame is Best For Charts Patterns?

Trader Type Time Frame Reason
Scalper 1-min / 5-min Quick trades, high volatility
Day Trader 15-min / 1-hour Intraday opportunities
Swing Trader 4-hour / Daily Captures multi-day trends
Investor Weekly / Monthly Long-term market view

Choosing the best time frame for chart patterns depends on your trading style. For day traders, shorter time frames like 1-minute or 5-minute charts are ideal for quick decisions. In contrast, swing traders may prefer daily or weekly charts to capture broader market trends.

Long-term investors often utilize monthly charts, allowing them to identify significant patterns over extended periods. Ultimately, the best time frame aligns with your trading goals and risk tolerance, enabling you to make informed decisions.

What is The Most Bullish Chart Pattern On The Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet?

Pattern Cup and Handle
Signal Bullish breakout after consolidation
Ideal Entry Break above resistance of the handle
Shape Rounded bottom + small dip (handle)

The most bullish chart pattern on the Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet is the cup and handle pattern. This formation signifies a period of consolidation followed by a breakout, indicating strong buying interest. Traders often look for a confirmed breakout above the resistance level for optimal entry points.

In this pattern, the cup represents a rounded bottom, while the handle shows a slight pullback. The formation typically suggests that the asset is poised for an upward trend, making it a favorite among bullish traders seeking potential profit opportunities.